PREVIOUSLY-
I just sat there for a long while, my head still buried into Paul's chest, wishing my husband would wake up. Paul was leaning against the headboard and I was leaning against him. I didn't even know I'd fallen asleep until I woke up to Seth holding my crying baby.
I ended up showing them both how to change a diaper the right way and then had to feed her again. I didn't care that Paul continued to sit in the bed as I fed her. I had no reason to. He'd been there for me at my lowest moment, and even though feeding my daughter was incredibly personal, I knew that I could trust him. He'd given his own clothes off his body to keep my daughter warm and help preserve whatever sliver of modesty I had left. Not to mention, I knew he wouldn't oogle, he had his own imprint for that.
Seth was still too embarrassed to stay in the room while I fed her, but I could understand that. He was still only 15 and saw me as a mother figure.
When she was done feeding, Paul asked if he could hold her for a little while. I watched as he gently held my daughter in his arms, just looking at her. She slept so peacefully. Watching them together brought a thought to my head that I was surprised I hadn't thought of before.
"Paul?" He looked over at me, so I continued, "I know it's not really a common thing here, I don't think, but I wanted to ask if you'd be Lily's godfather? Like if something were to happen to me and Embry, you'd take her and raise her for us?" I asked nervously, waiting for a response. "I mean, you're really the best choice. You're my best friend, and I trust you with her. I definitely couldn't pick Seth because he's her imprint and that would be a bit weird…" I rambled before I got cut off by Paul.
"I'd be honored." He replied, getting rid of my worries. "You don't think Embry will be mad you chose me without talking to him about it?"
"Nope. He knows how much you mean to me, and when he wakes up, he'll know how much you did for me and our daughter as well. Not to mention, I can tell my little girl already has you and Seth wrapped around her little finger. I'm not sure how well that'll turn out for me in the future, but it makes me feel better that she'll always have someone if she doesn't have us." I told him honestly.
"She does have us wrapped around her little finger already, doesn't she? Uncle Paul isn't ever going to let anything happen to you, isn't that right, little flower?" Paul said to Lily as she wrapped her tiny little hand around one of his fingers and held tight. I smiled brightly at his new nickname for her.
I must've fallen asleep again because I found myself being woke up a couple more times through the night to feed her, and before I knew it, the light was shining through the window.
Paul had helped me to the bathroom, which was definitely more embarrassing than feeding my daughter in front of him, but he assured me that there was absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Seth had taken Lily and was trying to get her redressed while Paul helped me back to my bed.
As soon as I sat back down, Embry woke up. Paul rushed to his side and Embry looked at him, still unaware of where he was at the moment.
"Bella? Where is she? Is she okay? The baby? Did you get the leech?" He asked all at once. Paul held up his hands for him to slow down.
"Calm down Em, we got the leech, and Bella's right there." Paul told him, pointing to me in the bed next to him.
Embry looked over to me and visibly sagged in relief, until his eyes went to my stomach, or lack thereof.
"The baby? What happened?!" Embry asked me quickly, tears brimming in his eyes.
"Shhh, Em, it's alright. Seth!" I yelled, and Embry looked at me questioningly, before seeing Seth come through the door, holding my little bundle securely in his arms and handing her to me. "Embry, would you like to meet your daughter?"
"She's here? She's okay?" He asked, concerned about nothing else.
"She's perfect. Lily Phoenix Call, meet your daddy." I said as I carefully handed her over to him. He took her gently in his arms and pushed the blanket down so that he could see her beautiful little face. She was tanned, just like him, and already had nearly a full head of black hair. Her eyes were dark already, and I knew they'd be a dark brown.
I watched as he interacted with her, tears falling down his cheeks as he brushed her little cheek with his thumb. "Phoenix?" he asked me curiously.
"She rose from the ashes, I thought it was pretty fitting." I told him and he smiled up at me.
"I think it's perfect. My little girl, my Lily flower." He said, rocking her back and forth. It was amazing to see my husband bond with our daughter. "Tell me what happened?"
So we did. We didn't spare him any gory detail, and Paul filled him in on what happened after I passed out. The only thing we hadn't told him was about the imprint.
"There's something big you haven't told me yet, isn't there?" He asked me, already knowing the answer to that, and I nodded.
"Paul, can you take Lily to the living room?" I asked. Paul nodded and lifted Lily from her father's grasp, moving to the living room. Seth made a move to follow and I gave him a sharp look. "You, stay."
Embry looked between me and Seth, who now looked like a puppy with his tail between his legs. He was nervous and seemed frozen to the spot. He knew what was about to happen.
"Tell me." Embry demanded. I looked to Seth for an answer.
"Iimprintedonyourdaughter!" Seth nearly shouted out.
"Repeat that again? Slower this time." Embry told him calmly, though I'm sure he understood what Seth had said. I could feel the subtle waves of anger coming from him already.
"I-I imprinted on Lily. The moment she first opened her eyes, I imprinted on her." Seth said, looking like he was ready to run at any second.
Embry turned to look at me, "Please tell me that it's another protector imprint?" I shook my head no. He turned back to Seth and stood up. He was still shaky, but he did anyways. I worried he might phase, but I knew he still wasn't well enough for that.
"You imprinted… on my daughter?! I have held her one time, that's it, and you already have a claim on her? She's a newborn! You're 15 years older than her! Bella, how are you okay with this?!" Embry then shouted in my direction.
"Think of Quil and Claire, Embry. It's the same. Trust me, I was mad at first, too, but Seth would do anything to protect her, and he has already proven that. I trust him, Em. I trust him with my life, and with hers." I said with complete honesty.
"But it's our daughter, Bella. Our little baby..." Embry said to me defeatedly, looking like he was about to cry.
"There's nothing we can do about it other than accept it, Em. It's done, you can't break a soulmate imprint. The spirits chose Seth for our daughter, just like they chose you for me." I told him, aching to go to him and calm him down.
Embry looked between me and Seth. I could see the turmoil spinning in his mind, and I could feel his distress over the thought of it. He looked back at Seth who gulped, waiting for his response. Embry raised his hand and pointed his finger at him.
"Every single one of us will be watching you, Seth. If you ever hurt my daughter or do anything to her without her consent or before she's ready, I will hunt you down and kill you. Brother, son, pack or not. Do you understand?" Embry told him menacingly, the sheer sound of it giving even me chills.
Seth nodded quickly. "I promise, Embry. You know I couldn't. I swear it's like I'm her super over-protective big brother right now, and I've already promised Mama I'd tell you guys the exact moment that changes." he rambled.
Embry didn't have the chance to respond further because we both heard Lily cry. I wasn't exactly sure if it was because she was hungry (it was about feeding time) or if it was because she could tell Seth was upset, but it made me curious.
Paul brought her in to us and I took her, trying to soothe her cries. Seth was watching her anxiously. She turned her head, looking for my breast, so I knew she was hungry.
"I'm going to feed her; can you guys go to Emily's and tell Sam that Embry is awake?" I asked. Seth nodded heading for the door, but Paul stood still, looking towards me. I knew he was worried about me freaking out again. "I'll be okay, Paul, Em is awake now. You'll know if I need you."
He nodded and walked out. I still had that moment of solid fear the second he was gone from the house, but it disappeared when I looked over and saw Embry sitting next to me. I took a deep breath and relaxed myself. I pulled my gown down and held Lily up to my breast. She latched immediately and started drinking greedily. Embry watched in utter fascination and admiration as our daughter fed.
I looked over at Embry, who looked tired, but otherwise okay. "How are you feeling?" I asked.
"I feel tons better now, but I felt like I was burning alive from inside my veins for a long time... I don't even know how long." He replied, stretching his arms.
"You were out for almost a day, but that's it. I was so worried when they said you'd been bitten... I know you can heal from broken bones, but vampire venom is another story." I told him.
"You know I'm stubborn, babe. I wouldn't miss this for the world. I'm already mad enough that I missed her birth, though I guess I'll be able to see it all in Seth's head." Embry said, making me blanch. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about the pack mind.
"After you see in their heads, I think I might as Sam to alpha order both Seth and Paul not to think of that while phased... them two is one thing, seeing what they did, but all of you? Nope. Uh uh." I said, shaking my head.
"I'll ask Sam, don't worry. So, what was that with Paul earlier when you told them to go?" Embry asked as he continued to watch closely. "Don't think I didn't notice the spike of fear in you when they both left."
"It's completely irrational!" I blurted out. "I don't understand it. I thought it would be better when you woke up, and it is, to a point, but I still feel it. It's like I freeze in fear every time they leave the room. I feel so... dependent on them and you." I felt a tear fall.
"Bella, after everything you went through yesterday… and I wasn't even there to help you. They were. I don't blame you for being afraid when they leave. They saved your life, our daughter's life." Embry said, resigned. I felt a pang of guilt from him, and I lifted his chin to look directly at me.
"Listen to me, Embry, they might have saved me from death, but you saved me from a fate worse than death. If you hadn't lured Edward out and distracted him, I would've been gone, vanished forever, turned into your mortal enemy and destined to live my immortal existence without my mate, and our daughter would have most likely died as well. You saved us, too. If you hadn't done exactly what you did, Seth wouldn't have been able to help me, and neither would Paul. Never, ever, think that you didn't help me, because you did. So much. You took care of the threat to our family and I couldn't be more grateful. I almost lost you too, you know." I told him with tears falling down my cheeks. He leaned over to me and wiped my tears with his thumb before leaning in to kiss me.
"I'm still here, we all are. All of us are safe now." Embry said to me as he leaned his forehead against mine.
A/N- EMBRY'S AWAKE! YAY! Happy family time! Just a warning, the next chapter will be the epilogue, so be prepared for the ending of our journey.
